Support » one season is 54 in 2014-15.I remember playing up to a

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- In Western Michigans final home game of the season, Justin Ferguson injured his ankle and had to be taken off on a stretcher. The crowd began clapping and teammates came over to hug the senior safety. And then Ferguson, who was able to sit up slightly, began motioning with his arms, reaching them forward and pulling them back.Rowing the boat.It began as a curious catchphrase for a program that needed any publicity it could get, but now Western Michigans row the boat mantra has become a recognizable rallying cry to college football fans around the country -- the Roll Tide of the Mid-American Conference. Not only have players bought into coach P.J. Flecks quirky motivational tactics, fans have also embraced the teams philosophy and identity -- especially now that the 13th-ranked Broncos are taking an undefeated record into Friday nights MAC championship game against Ohio.While Ferguson was being taken off the field during WMUs 55-35 win over Toledo last week, the crowd chanted row the boat in support.I think it just shows how far this cultures come, Fleck said. It shows that if you believe in something bigger than yourself, yeah, you might get made fun of, you might get laughed at, people might sit there and snicker, drill holes in your boat. But they can drill all they want at 12-0.When Fleck was hired after the 2012 season at age 32, he became the youngest coach in the Bowl Subdivision. Hed played at MAC rival Northern Illinois and was an assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but his resume was relatively short. It was his personality that set him apart right away. When she hired Fleck, WMU athletic director Kathy Beauregard said he could bring limitless energy, passion, enthusiasm and opportunity to the program.Correct on all counts.Quarterback Zach Terrell was a redshirt freshman during Flecks first season.We were probably both very unimpressed when we first met each other, Fleck said. He probably looked at me and said, `How did you get this job? And I looked at him and said, `How did you get here?Fleck wanted Terrell to show more leadership, and the quarterback has blossomed since then. His stat line this season is like something from a video game: Hes thrown for 3,086 yards while completing 72 percent of his passes -- with 30 touchdowns and one interception. It helps to be able to throw to receiver Corey Davis, who last week became the career FBS leader in yards receiving.After going 1-11 in Flecks first season, the Broncos are 28-10 since, including the 12-0 mark this season that includes wins over two Big Ten teams.Thats just a testament to Coach Fleck and this entire staff, Davis said. They believed in us when we didnt even believe in ourselves. They stayed with us, and we kept rowing, kept our oars in the water, and here we are.The Broncos entered this season as MAC favorites, even though Northern Illinois had represented WMUs division in the conference title game for six straight seasons. Now WMU could make it to a major bowl if it wins the league title. Although Fleck wont say much publicly about the playoff rankings -- the Broncos are No. 17 this week -- he and his team have had high hopes since January.We set incredibly high expectations and pressure on our players, Fleck said. We showed them exactly what they could do this week, on a screen, and said, `If you want this, heres what youre going to have to do, and its going to be harder than youve ever imagined from January to August -- let alone August through December.Flecks success has turned him into a popular name for open jobs as this season draws to a close. There is now a major opening at Oregon, and Flecks name has also come up in speculation about the Purdue job.Beauregard said recently that Fleck had not spoken with other schools about coaching jobs, and Fleck says he tries to be open and honest with his players about the topic.Were a very close-knit family here, and I believe they deserve to know whats going on and what the truth really is, he said. I cant hold them accountable for not telling me everything when I dont tell them everything.No matter where he ends up next season, Fleck and his team have been on quite a journey.We dont let the outside noise and pressure and different things really get in the way of the way that we operate each and every day, Terrell said. This culture was set from day one from Coach Fleck. We conduct ourselves in the same way that we did when we first started. We just change our best, and we continue to grow higher each and every day.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 .---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister Harold Carmichael Womens Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Herman Edwards Jersey . PAUL, Minn. https://www.eaglessportsgoods.com/Womens-Ron-Jaworski-Inverted-Jersey/ . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Carson Wentz Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Wes Hopkins Womens Jersey . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs return home from a three-game road trip on Wednesday at the Air Canada Centre when they face the Minnesota Wild, who will be wrapping up a five-game trip of their own.Toronto finished its trip 1-1-1 and Minnesota is 1-1-2 on its tour. Both teams defeated the Edmonton Oilers on their trips.The Maple Leafs (10-9-5) have been at their best at home (8-3-0) and Wild coach Bruce Boudreau, who was born in Toronto and once played with the Leafs, has noticed.Ive watched their home games, and when theyre on, youd better be ready to play, Boudreau said Tuesday. Theyre going to be very good, very soon. Its not going to take too long for these guys to be extremely good.The Wild (12-8-4) has held its own in road games, going 5-5-4. When the trip ends Wednesday the Wild will have played five more games on the road than at home.Boudreau does not want his team to suffer a letdown in its last game of a long trip.I hope it doesnt happen in this city, he said. I have enough trouble winning in Toronto (4-5-3 as a coach and 0-3-1 in the past four visits) when I come, so I hope were ready to play. Were coming off a pretty good win in Edmonton (2-1 in overtime on Sunday) and wed like to continue this because then well have a good stretch at home.The key for the Wild is the goaltender of Devan Dubnyk, who leads the NHL with a save percentage of .945 and in shutouts with four and is second in goals-against average at 1.63.He has given us a chance every night, Boudreau said. Hes been spectacular.The Maple Leafs are pleased with their starting goaltender, Frederik Andersen, who played for Boudreau with the Anaheim Ducks, but are searching for a reliable backup.They have taken a step in this direction by clearing goaltender Jhonas Enroth through waivers and assigning him to the Marlies of the AHLL.ddddddddddddCalled up from the Marlies was up 22-year-old prospect Antoine Bibeau, who will back up Anderson on Wednesday.The long-term solution appears to be Karri Ramo, the former Calgary Flames goaltender, who has been cleared to play after recovering from a knee injury and has signed a tryout contract with the Marlies.Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock would like to be able to give Andersen more games off than Enroth enabled him to get with his lack of performance.I think weve given (Andersen) a pretty good workload at this point, Babcock said. Hes played 21 games. Wed like the backup to play 20 games.The highest number of games in which Andersen has played in one season is 54 in 2014-15.I remember playing up to about 20 games straight, Andersen said. That was a good learning curve, playing every night and getting used to that workload both mentally and physically. There are so many different mindsets -- playing every night, playing now and then. Youve got to be able to switch your mindset every night and be ready for every shot.Andersen struggled in his first few games of this season and had some sympathy for Enroth, who lost his job after four starts.I didnt get in a groove for my first four or five starts, Andersen said. For him, it was tough. But you have to make the best of it. Hes a good guy to have around.With the Marlies, Bibeau is 6-5-5 with a 2.54 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri did not skate with the team Tuesday because he was ill. Center Peter Holland was not at the workout either as he awaits a trade.Minnesota has reassigned right winger Zack Mitchell and defenseman Gustav Olofsson to the Iowa Wild of the AHL. ' ' '